Exploited

Page 52

I got up and went around to the other side of the table and pulled a chair close to his. I wrapped my arm around his waist and laid my head on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Mason.” I meant it. I didn’t like seeing him sad. And he was definitely sad.
“When I got the chance to come to Richmond, I hate to admit that I jumped at the opportunity to get away. I needed the breathing room.” He looked so ashamed. It weighed on him.
“My mom was sort of the same after my dad and Charlotte’s accident,” I found myself telling him. I felt the need to give him some of my grief to share with his. To let him know he wasn’t alone.
“Really?” Mason rested his head on top of mine and we sat together so close, hardly aware that there was anyone else in the small coffee shop. We could have been the only ones there.
That was the danger of Mason Kohler.
Intimacy.
“Mom and I were never really close. I had a much better relationship with my dad. Charlotte and Mom were the pair. Then me and Dad.”
Mason kissed the top of my head. “Daddy’s girl, huh?”
I chuckled. “Something like that.” Thinking about my father brought the painful ache I was used to.
I realized those were the only feelings I was accustomed to anymore. The ones that hurt.
But with Mason it was different. I wanted to give him my history. My story. I knew it was safe with him.
And it was something real I felt I could give him.
“But Mom and I never really saw eye to eye after that. We didn’t agree on how to best take care of Charlotte. She dropped the lawsuit against the city for the accident. I didn’t want her to—” I cut off suddenly. I had given him too much.
Damn it.
“Anyway, I understand. And don’t feel guilty for protecting yourself when it comes to your parents. The ones we love the most are the ones with the greatest power to hurt us.”
Mason went very, very still. His jaw became tight and there was a strange look on his face.
“What is it?” I asked him.
His expression smoothed out and he gave me a smile, kissing me softly. “Nothing.” He kissed me again. Placating me. “You’re right, though. I shouldn’t feel guilty. But that’s easier said than done.”
He wasn’t telling me something. Something that bothered him.
What was he hiding? It bugged me. I didn’t like his keeping things from me. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him about it, but I stopped myself before I could say anything.
As if I’m in a position to be annoyed by that, I silently chastised myself.
“So are you going to see them?” I watched Mason closely, wondering what he was thinking. Unspoken thoughts were perilous.
He held me tight against his side. “I’d rather spend my time with someone who makes me feel good.” He ran a thumb along the side of my face. “Because that’s what you do, Hannah. You make me feel good. And it’s been awhile since I felt that way. So thank you.”
Shame. It was there ready to smack me in the face.
“You don’t need to thank me,” I protested, moving away slightly. I had to. The closeness was a threat.
“It’s true, though. It had to be fate that brought us together that day you dropped your purse on the floor.” His eyes twinkled and the guilt roared.
Not fate, Mason. Just a devious woman with an agenda.
“I should get going. You’re not very good for my time lines in the morning, Mister Agent Man,” I scolded good-naturedly, needing to change the subject before I felt even worse.
Mason looked at the time on his phone and winced. “Damn, you’re right. I had no idea it was that late.” He grabbed his keys from the table and got to his feet, pulling my chair out for me so I could stand. Such a gentleman. “Can I see you later?”
I gave him a coy look. “What do you think?”
His smirk was adorable. “I’d say yes.”
I flipped my hair over my shoulder. “I don’t know. I think I might be busy.” Mason loved flirting. He liked it when I played with him like this. I had learned exactly the right things to do to make him want me. It had become almost too easy.
What would it have been like to find things out naturally? Honestly?
I couldn’t think like that.
Mason yanked me toward him, our chests pressed against each other. His fingers on my chin, he forced me to look at him; his eyes smoldered. “You’ll be busy. With me.”
I swallowed thickly. His pseudoaggression was such a turn-on. My inner feminist balked at how much I liked it when he took control.
“Sounds about right,” I whispered raggedly.
I let him kiss me in front of everyone in the coffee shop, not caring that they stared.
For the first time it didn’t bother me being the center of attention.
With Mason, I liked it.
—
“Miss me?”
I jumped in my seat, glancing up to find Kyle standing behind me in the tiny, tiny cubicle.
I rubbed my eyes. I had been staring at the computer screen for over an hour, not really doing anything.
I had become completely useless at work. Between my nighttime activities and Mason, I couldn’t care less about the job that paid the bills. Eventually that would be noticed. I needed to get my act together.
“Hey, Kyle,” I replied distractedly. “Why would I miss you?”
Kyle’s smile crumpled a bit and I wondered what I had said to upset him.
“I’ve been gone for the last two days. I thought you if anyone would have noticed.” Kyle’s eyes darkened and then looked sad.
“I’m so sorry, Kyle. Normally I would have. I’ve just been really focused on this hacker thing. Why were you out?”
I felt bad. I hadn’t noticed Kyle had been absent from work. Though to be fair, it’s not like we were stuck to each other’s side. I had other things to think about than whether my work buddy was missing in action.
Kyle pulled up a chair and sat down. “The hacker thing, huh?” Why did it sound like he didn’t believe me? What was that about?
“Yeah. It’s a big deal, you know.”
“Is it?” Kyle sounded strange.
I put a hand to his forehead. “Were you sick? You’re looking a little pale, though I don’t know if that’s just your normal complexion,” I joked.
Kyle chuckled. “Touché, I guess.” He nudged me playfully in the shoulder. “No, I wasn’t sick.”